Five Questions: Nicholas Ascioti

Nicholas Ascioti, 38, is a native of Solvay, a suburb of Syracuse, who resides in West Sand Lake. Ascioti, music director of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Wynantskill, initiated a concert series program during his tenure that boasts four concerts each season.An upcoming concert is at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 featuring the Aoede Consort. Admission 15 for adults; $10 for students and seniors.

Q Share a little about your background and how it led you to the role of music director at St. Jude's the Apostle Church?

A I studied composition and conducting at the College of Saint. Rose and Bennington College and always had an interest in sacred music. While at St. Rose, I was a student of Robert Sheehan who at the time was the music director at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. I learned a great deal about sacred music from him and had many opportunities to perform sacred music.

Q As a composer, how does music speak to you and/or what inspired you to write ?

Advertisement

A What inspires me to compose is a text with strong imagery. Many of the texts I use are written by my father-in-law, Richard Hibbert, who is a retired Methodist Minister and a gifted writer. For Sacred Victim, the piece being premiered Feb. 16, Richard wrote a moving text which is based on passages from the Book of Isaiah.

Q Describe a little about the upcoming performance.

A The Aoede Consort will perform a cappella sacred music from the Renaissance, as well as, premiere my piece Sacred Victim. The Consort is made up of eight professional vocalists from New York City and the Capital Region, conducted by Dan Foster. For more information people can visit www.naamusic.com, and people can become a patron of the concert by going to www.kickstarter.com and search projects under my name.

Q What are some of the biggest challenges you face on the job, or with regard to promoting music programs such as this?

A Building an audience for new music is always a challenge, especially in a smaller town such as Wynantskill, but the response has been very good. We encourage people to come to the concerts and see what we are offering. We book accomplished musicians, ensembles, and composers from the Capital Region, NYC and Boston, and the ticket prices are minimal compared to the larger concert venues. St. Jude the Apostle Church is a wonderful venue for concerts for people in the surrounding towns to attend.

Q How long have you been music director at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Wynantskill?